asked the Taoiseach whether the Attorney General has retained the services of an expert in international law to replace the services of the person who was consulted in early 1977, and is since deceased, in connection with the arbitration of the delimitation of the Continental Shelf between this country and Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Continental Shelf Delimitation.
5.
The Attorney General has this matter under consideration.
Would the Taoiseach agree that to the outside eye at least a great deal of lethargy seems to have overtaken this whole business and that in a matter of such enormous concern to us as what possibly may be the difference between acquiring and losing millions of acres of sea bed, the State in having delayed in replacing——
A brief question, please. The Deputy may not make statements at Question Time.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the State, the Attorney General and/or the Government, in failing to retain the services of some other expert in international law, to replace the services of this gentleman who, unhappily, died nearly a year ago, show that they are not serious about pursuing this arbitration?
I am assured by the Attorney General that he is giving serious consideration to the question following the death of Professor O'Connell. I believe that, in so far as he requires specialist advice that he can, perhaps, get it available to him ad hoc, but I am not completely familiar with people who have that professional expertise. I feel that the Attorney General probably is.
I do not wish to press the Taoiseach about this Department when he is only in the situation of answering for the man in charge of it. Would the Taoiseach urge on the Attorney General the necessity of having a first-class, acknowledged expert in this field, that is, a person of the type we do not have in the country, to keep a continuous eye on the progress of the arbitration which is planned and on other international developments which go on all the time which may possibly affect it? It is no use doing it ad hoc, getting a man at the last moment, who then has to make up six months' or a year's arrears in this work. Would the Taoiseach urge this point of view on the Attorney General?
That is a valid point. I certainly will pass it on to the Attorney General.